Tougher anti-static rules to affect forklifts

Tougher anti-static rules for lift trucks handling flammable waste will come in to force from November.

The EN1755:2015 standard is expected to affect the management of ATEX compliant vehicles used in solvent recovery and waste treatment plants, when static becomes considered a normal occurrence in zone 2 hazardous areas.

The new standard will supersede EN1755:2000 that is the EU standard that explosion protected materials handling equipment is designed or converted to, to achieve ATEX 2014/34/EU compliance.

The biggest changes will apply in the zone 2 drum or IBC storage areas where 2.5-3 ton capacity diesel forklifts tend to operate, says Rob Vesty from Pyroban: “Waste is a highly-regulated industry and the rules are set to change for lift trucks at the end of 2017. One of the key changes is that static is now considered a ‘normal’ occurrence in Zone 2 hazardous areas, affecting the technical design of the truck. Static build up and friction can create enough energy to cause ignition.”

As well as affecting the requirements for tires, this will also impact other elements of a forklift truck, such as seats, arm rests, cabin sides and hydraulic systems in zone 2. Although Pyroban’s ATEX conversion will address these issues, EN1755 changes will impact how treatment plants manage their fleet day-to-day. Under the revized standard, tires must now be anti-static in zone 2 hazardous areas, assuming they are traveling at more than 6km/h.

About Author

Tom is editor of ivtinternational.com and iVT magazine. During his 20 year career in journalism Tom has worked for a diverse range of titles including Men's Health and Cosmopolitan. He also edits iVT's UKi Media & Events stablemate Traffic Technology International.

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